Fuel-Efficiency Finds: Cars That Get at Least 30 MPG Combined

Fuel efficiency is soaring in importance with car buyers these days, and automakers are responding with an ever-growing list of cars and trucks that actually deliver decent miles-per-gallon performance.

Carmakers, though, continue to focus a lot of their advertising dollars on highway mileage, while the fuel-efficiency numbers that should matter most to motorists are the combined fuel economy tallies approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

That's because few motorists do all their driving at highway speeds. There's a lot of city driving to be accounted for. And for most vehicles, hybrids and plug-in electrics generally excepted, fuel economy drops as stop-and-go driving increases.

Because automakers with gasoline-fueled vehicles that deliver 40 mpg or better on the highway love to tout them, there's an established 40 mpg club, composed mainly of specially equipped, limited-production high-efficiency models.

But for motorists who actually drive in congested city traffic as well as on the open highway, here's a longer, more usable list: cars and trucks that deliver fuel economy of at least 30 mpg on the EPA's combined city-highway scale. The EPA creates its combined rating using a complicated formula that adds roughly 55 percent of the city rating to 45 percent of the highway rating.

All the members of the 40-mpg highway fuel-efficiency club are included here, but this list of vehicles that deliver 30 mpg or more in combined city and highway driving provides a lot more variety for shoppers in search of significant fuel savings. For you early adopters, it also includes vehicles that use such alternative fuels as electricity, diesel and natural gas. These are primarily 2013 cars, plus the already-introduced 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel and the soon-to-be-launched 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV. More 2014s will be added as the cars debut, so keep checking back.

Assuming gasoline is selling for $3.50 a gallon, a 30-mpg car with a 15-gallon fuel tank costs $52.50 to fill. It delivers 450 miles of range for a fuel cost of 11.67 cents per mile. A 25-mpg vehicle with a 15-gallon tank costs the same to fill, but delivers less range (375 miles) and the fuel cost per mile rises to 14 cents per mile, a 20 percent cost increase. As the price of gas increases, so do the savings from driving a vehicle that delivers 30 mpg, or 40 or 50 or more. Whether the savings will offset the potentially higher price of these more efficient vehicles depends on the size of the efficiency premium. In addition to cost savings, there are the intangible benefits that many people value, such as reduced oil use and tailpipe emissions.

Big Still Bad for Fuel Economy
There are no pickups, large traditional SUVs or minivans on this list. If you have to tow a boat or haul a soccer team, you won't do it yet in a 30-mpg vehicle.

"Big" and "fuel-efficient" still aren't on speaking terms, in other words. But as automakers continue to perfect gas-electric hybrid systems and fuel-saving technologies for gas and diesel engines, the day will come when those two descriptions can peaceably coexist.

As things now stand in the U.S. market, 54 model lines out of more than 330 on sale for the 2013 model year have one or more trim levels that deliver combined city and highway fuel efficiency of 30 mpg or more, according to the EPA's formula. This is a 40 percent increase from mid-2011, when Edmunds first compiled the list, and is up 10 percent from 2012.

Moving On Up
Another plus: Several of those 2013 vehicles show improved EPA-rated fuel efficiency over the 2012 versions.

That a car such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid can post a 20 percent fuel efficiency boost in just one model year shows that automakers continue striving for improvement, even when the original already was considered a fuel economy leader.

And while in 2012 there was just one vehicle (an EV) rated at more than 99 mpg, this year there are seven: five battery-electric cars and two plug-in hybrids.

One small oddity on the EV list is the 2013 Nissan Leaf, which boasts several aerodynamic and battery system improvements that boosted its overall fuel efficiency. But because Nissan recommends charging the battery to just 80 percent of capacity most of the time, the EPA's range estimate is 75 miles: an average of the Leaf's 80 percent and 100 percent ranges. We use the EPA numbers in our listing, so the 2013 Leaf is credited with 75 miles of range, although Nissan says that with a full charge it can deliver 84 miles.

Station Wagons, Conventional Gas Burners and Diesels
As you scan the list, you'll note that of the traditional domestic manufacturers, only Ford and General Motors have vehicles that make the 30 mpg combined grade. Chrysler is still missing in action when it comes to 30-mpg-plus fuel economy, although the company, which is now controlled by Italy's Fiat, is working to remedy that situation. Fiat is one of several European carmakers with models on the list, and all of the major Japanese and Korean companies are represented.

On the plus side, there are more than just tiny subcompacts in the 30 mpg-plus segment. Automakers are improving their overall fuel economy and there are a number of compacts, a few midsize cars and SUV-styled crossovers here. There are even five station wagons if you include the Mini Cooper Countryman in that category, as Edmunds does. All can deliver at least 30 mpg overall, if you mind your throttle foot.

Most of these vehicles are conventional gasoline burners. But membership in the 30-mpg combined club also includes 17 conventional hybrids, seven diesels and all of the advanced electric-drive cars now in the market. Six are plug-in hybrids: the Chevrolet Volt hatchback, the very troubled but still on sale Fisker Karma sedan (only as a 2012 model), Toyota's Prius Plug-In, the Ford C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi models and the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In.

There also are nine all-electric models: the Ford Focus EV, Honda Fit EV and Nissan Leaf hatchbacks; the Tesla Model S sedan; the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive and 2012 Mitsubishi i city cars (the 2013 i hasn't gone on sale yet); the limited-production Toyota RAV4 EV; and the soon-to-be-launched Fiat 500e and Chevrolet Spark EVs.

More To Come
The number of cars that earn 30 mpg will grow in coming years as automakers release more hybrids, assorted plug-in cars and conventional gasoline cars and trucks with more efficient engines. GM is preparing a Cadillac that uses the range-extended plug-in hybrid technology developed for the Chevrolet Volt; and Tesla's Model S all-electric sedan, which launched in 2012 with a king-sized 85 kilowatt-hour battery pack, adds trim levels available with a smaller battery pack in 2013, reducing both cost and range. Edmunds.com has prepared a story that lists upcoming high-efficiency, advanced technology vehicles. But for now, this list is it for the combined 30-mpg performers.

Please note that not all trim and equipment levels of every model qualify for the 30-mpg club. Certain transmissions, larger engines, bigger wheels and tires and even the additional weight created by lots of extra electronics all can reduce fuel economy. The list shows cars by model, style and engine-transmission combo. The listings are in ascending order of EPA-rated combined city/highway fuel economy. Additionally, when discussing fuel efficiency in vehicles that use electricity from the grid, or alternatives to gasoline and diesel such as natural gas, we denote fuel economy as the gasoline miles per gallon equivalent, or MPGe. An EPA decision to downgrade the estimated fuel-efficiency ratings of a number of Hyundai and Kia models affected a variety of the companies' 2011-'13 models. This list places the affected models in their new, lower fuel-economy categories, and omits those that fell below the 30-mpg (combined) threshold.

Happy hunting for more fuel-efficient driving.

30 mpg
2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT, LTZ (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed automatic or manual)

2013 Chevrolet Sonic LS, LT, LTZ all styles (subcompact hatchback, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Chevrolet Sonic, RS (compact hatchback, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Ford Focus S, SE all styles (2.0-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Honda Accord LX, EX, EX-L (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter engine, CVT)

2013 Honda Fit Sport (compact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT (compact hatchback, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed automatic or manual)

2013 Lexus RX 450h (hybrid SUV, 3.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Mazda 2 Sport, Touring (compact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

2013 Mini Cooper Convertible (two-door compact convertible, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper S (two-door compact hatchback, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper Clubman (compact three-door hatchback, 1-6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper Countryman (compact wagon, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper Paceman (two-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper Roadster (two-door convertible, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Nissan Sentra S (four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Nissan Versa 1.6S (four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, four-speed automatic, six-speed manual)

2013 Subaru Impreza all styles except WRX models (compact four-door sedan and hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, CVT)

2013 Toyota Corolla L, S (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

31 mpg
2013 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Ford Focus Titanium (compact four-door sedan, hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine uses compressed natural gas, five-speed automatic, EPA-rated fuel economy is 31 MPGe)

2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 all styles (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter engine, CVT)

2013 Fiat 500 Abarth (subcompact two-door convertible, hatchback, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Honda Civic EX, LX Coupe (compact two-door coupe, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Honda Civic LX Sedan (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Honda Fit (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Hyundai Accent all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Hyundai Veloster all styles (three-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual or six-speed automatic)

2013 Hyundai Elantra SE, GS Coupe (two-door compact coupe, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Kia Rio all styles (1.6-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Lexus GS 450h (midsize four-door hybrid sedan, 3.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Mazda 3 all styles (four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed manual)

32 mpg
2013 Chevrolet Spark, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.2-liter engine, four-speed automatic)

2013 Honda Civic Coupe (compact two-door coupe, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Honda Civic (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Hyundai Accent all styles (subcompact four-door sedan, hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe GS, SE (compact two-door coupe, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS, Limited (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, six-speed manual or automatic)

2013 Kia Rio all styles (subcompact four-door sedan or hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mazda 2 all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Mazda Mazda3 i Touring and i Grand Touring (compact four-door hatchback, 2.0-liter engine, six speed automatic or manual)

2013 Mini Cooper (subcompact two-door hatchback, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Mini Cooper Coupe (subcompact two-door coupe, 1.6-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Toyota Yaris all styles (subcompact hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, all styles (subcompact two door hatchback or convertible, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine, six-speed automatic or manual)

33 mpg
2014 Chevrolet Cruze TD (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, six-speed manual)

2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS, LT, LTZ turbo (subcompact four-door hatchback, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine is standard on the RS and is available as an option on the LT and LTZ models, six-speed manual)

2013 Ford Fiesta, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback or sedan, 1.4-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Ford Focus SFE FFV (compact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, five-speed manual; SFE package is an option on the SE model; flex-fuel engine can use gasoline or E85 ethanol-gas blend, but only achieves 33 mpg using gasoline)

2013 Honda Civic HF (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

2013 Mazda 3 i Sport and i Touring, i Grand Touring (compact four-door sedan, 2.0-liter engine, six-speed automatic)

2013 Toyota Yaris L (subcompact two door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Toyota Yaris SE (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.5-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (compact four-door wagon, 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, six-speed automatic)

34 mpg
2013 Audi A3 TDI Premium Wagon (four-door compact wagon, 2.0-liter diesel, six-speed automatic)

2013 Chevrolet Spark, all styles (subcompact four-door hatchback, 1.2-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Fiat 500 Pop, Sport, Lounge, C Pop, C Lounge (subcompact two-door hatchback and convertible, 1.4-liter engine, five-speed manual)

2013 Honda CR-Z (subcompact hybrid two-door hatchback, 1.5-liter hybrid-electric, six-speed manual)

2013 Nissan Sentra all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.8-liter engine, CVT)

2013 Volkswagen Golf TDI (compact two-door hatchback, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine, six-speed manual or automatic)

2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (compact four-door sedan, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel, six-speed manual or automatic)

2013 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI four-door wagon, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel, six-speed manual)

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE and SEL (midsize four-door sedan, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine, six-speed automatic)

35 mpg
2013 Nissan Versa, all styles except S (subcompact four-door sedan, 1.6-liter engine, CVT)

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE (midsize four-door sedan, turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel, six-speed manual)

36 mpg
2013 Smart Fortwo all styles (mini two-door hatchback, convertible 1.0-liter engine, five-speed automatic)

37 mpg
2013 Honda CR-Z (http://www.edmunds.com/honda/cr-z/2013/features-specs.html?style=200443502) all styles (subcompact hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid (midsize hybrid four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2013 Kia Optima EX Hybrid (midsize hybrid four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2013 Scion iQ (mini two-door hatchback, 1.3-liter engine, CVT)

38 mpg
2013 Acura ILX Hybrid all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

2013 Kia Optima LX Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.4-liter gas-electric, six-speed automatic)

40 mpg
2013 Lexus ES 300h (midsize hybrid, four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid all styles (full-size four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

41 mpg
2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (midsize four-door sedan, 2.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

42 mpg
2013 Honda Insight all styles (compact hatchback hybrid, 1.3-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Lexus CT 200h (compact hybrid four-door hatchback, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Toyota Prius V all styles (midsize wagon, hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

44 mpg
2013 Honda Civic Hybrid all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

45 mpg
2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (midsize four-door sedan, 2.0-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid all styles (compact four-door sedan, 1.5-liter gas-electric, seven-speed automatic)

46 MPGe
2014 Honda Accord Plug-In (midsize four-door sedan, 2.0-liter gas-electric, CVT)

47 mpg
2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid all styles (compact four-door wagon, 2.0-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid all styles (midsize four-door sedan, 2-liter gas-electric, CVT)

50 mpg
2013 Toyota Prius all styles (midsize four-door hatchback, hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Toyota Prius C all styles (compact four-door hatchback, hybrid, 1.5-liter gas-electric, CVT)

52 MPGe
2012 Fisker Karma all styles (compact four-door sport sedan, plug-in hybrid, electric drive with onboard gasoline generator, single-speed transmission)

76 MPGe
2013 Toyota RAV4 EV (available only in California; midsize crossover SUV, battery-electric, single-speed transmission)

89 MPGe
2013 Tesla Model S 85 kWh (midsize four-door hatchback sedan, battery-electric, single-speed transmission, 85 kWH battery pack, up to 265 miles per charge)

95 MPGe
2013 Prius Plug-In all styles (midsize four-door hatchback, plug-in hybrid, 1.8-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Tesla Model S 60 kWh (midsize four-door hatchback sedan, battery-electric, single-speed transmission, 60 kWh battery pack, up to 208 miles per charge per manufacturer's estimate).

98 MPGe
2013 Chevrolet Volt (midsize four-door hatchback, plug-in hybrid, electric drive with onboard gasoline generator, single speed transmission)

100 MPGe
2013 Ford C-Max Energi (compact four-door wagon, plug-in hybrid, 2.0-liter gas-electric, CVT)

2013 Ford Fusion Energi (midsize four-door sedan, plug-in hybrid, 2.0-liter gas-electric, CVT)

105 MPGe
2013 Ford Focus EV (compact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-speed transmission, up to 76 miles per charge)

107 MPGe
2013 Smart Fortwo Electric (mini two-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-speed transmission)

112 MPGe
2012 Mitsubishi i all styles (electric vehicle, subcompact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-speed transmission) (2013 not yet available.)

115 MPGe
2013 Nissan Leaf all styles (compact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, CVT, EPA-rated at 75 miles per charge)

116 MPGe
2013 Fiat 500e (available only in California, mini two-door hatchback, battery-electric, CVT, up to 87 miles per charge)

118 MPGe
2013 Honda Fit EV (limited availability, subcompact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-speed transmission, up to 82 miles per charge)

119 MPGe
2014 Chevrolet Spark EV (limited availability, subcompact four-door hatchback, battery-electric, single-sped transmission, up to 82 miles per charge)